Alex Alexanderson was born in Sweden, and moved to the United States in 1869. He worked on the Benton Packet Line out of Bismarck. He also did carpentry work in LaMoure and Dickey Counties. The Alexanderson family lost their first farm home to fire in 1885. Alexanderson was an amateur boat builder in his leisure time, and in 1910 he launched the Wanderland, designed to travel on the James River. The boat was so large and heavy with equipment that it only drew one foot of water. He offered trips from Oakes and LaMoure. After taking the Wanderland apart in 1914, Alexanderson built the Red Wing.